Feeding quail

[Angry Perch]

Any recommendations for food? Currently it's just cracked corn. I also plan to set some posts in and around the area. Dad likes to hang out on a perch to keep an eye on the kids. There are some old, grey posts laying in the field that look like they'd make good lookouts.

[Fishmaker57]

We just feed chicken scratch and they love it, usually feeding 200+ in the winter, but only when the snow gets over 3 - 4". Once they are on it, we are feeding 50 lbs a week!

[Birdguy]

Scratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.

[Angry Perch]

Scratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.

Great info. Thanks.
Predators are my main concern, as the place is lousy with hawks and those white headed crows. 

[Birdguy]

Scratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.

Great info. Thanks.
Predators are my main concern, as the place is lousy with hawks and those white headed crows. 

Hopefully the white headed crows will be feasting on the neighbors chickens as they are a much bigger better meal! The hawks is what to watch and any raccoons, cats etc. That is why I say watch that tree top, hawks will be quite visible until you train them. 

[Angry Perch]

Scratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.

Great info. Thanks.
Predators are my main concern, as the place is lousy with hawks and those white headed crows. 

Hopefully the white headed crows will be feasting on the neighbors chickens as they are a much bigger better meal! The hawks is what to watch and any raccoons, cats etc. That is why I say watch that tree top, hawks will be quite visible until you train them. 

I've seen raccoons, bobcats and domestic cats on my trail camera. My first order of business is to give them plenty of cover by planting thickets.

[Angry Perch]

Watched a hawk come in hot Saturday, and Dad quail chased him off. So I put some brush over the feeder/ watering hole for a quick fix. An hour later Mom and Dad were giving the kids a tour of their new digs. Pretty cool stuff.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

  Hey guys, gals We aren't suppot feed or encrurraged them in  whay, shape or forum......

[Axle]

Skunks are aggressive egg robbers. Getting rid of most of the skunks in your area (if they exist there) will also help. I don't have them around where I live but I also don't have quail. I do know that the spray-proof skunk traps work very well. Especially if they are baited with fried chicken. I have trapped skunks in the past and know that where they exist - the numbers are always higher than you think they might be.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Hey I agree,
WE have "EGG stealing Raven's,"
They come in almost every morning to steal our neighbors chick eggs, fly high, drop them in our pasture, then just lick that yolk up!!!

[Angry Perch]

Hey guys, gals We aren't suppot feed or encrurraged them in  whay, shape or forum......

Huh?

[buckfvr]

Hey guys, gals We aren't suppot feed or encrurraged them in  whay, shape or forum......

Huh?

No kidding huh.......

[nwwanderer]

Cracked corn by it self is not great for game birds, low poor quality protein and a bunch more phosphorous than calcium.  Can be part of a diet.  The babies need a bunch of calories and protein, think bugs and fat.  Pretty easy to get it balanced.  Grain, peas, canola, limestone in the right proportions come close, add the right vitamin/mineral mix and all is will.  Plan a food plot that is a bug factory and good cover, sweet clover comes to mind but it is a two year process.  Spring canola and triticale planted early next spring with sweet clover part of the mix should give you a excellent two or three year plot.